A Riotous Montage

I dreamed I’ve been here before
A vision of St. Louis:
Gravel by the tracks and graffiti on the walls
Shopping carts on curbs, propositions on restroom stalls.

A riotous historic montage:
This is where freedom fought
The railed, nailed, jailed workers
Against the dream they sought.
The flat feet fell flat as ink
On parchment paper-thin skin
With the wrath their resignation wrought.
Guess by the color of parking tickets
Which side lost.

The dream is alive, although
By many times, with many guns,
Shot
Recalled but never taught,
Rundown but not forgot,
Seeping along late summer gutters.

Have you heard?
There’s a barbecue shack around the corner
Where the cooks behind the counter deliver
What the menu offers.
Except no chicken today
But the slaughtered daughters of liberty’s
Still on her way.
So take a number,
Try the signature sauce,
And tell you friends
To wait.

The last next train leaves in an hour.